According to the American Cancer Society, there are 5 main categories of chemotherapy drugs that are used to fight cancer. They are:

1. Alkylating agents-that work directly on the cancer cell's DNA to prevent it from replicating. Busulfan, Cyclophoshamide and Melphalan are examples of Alkylating agents.

2. Nitrosureas-that inhibit a cancer cell's enzymes needed for DNA repair. Carmustine and Lomustine are examples of Nitrosureas.

3. Antimetabolites-that interfere with both a cancer cell's DNA and RNA. 5-Fluorouracil, Methotrexate and Fludarabine are examples of Antimetabolites.

4. Antitumor Antibiotics-that also interfere with a cancer cell's DNA in addition to changing its cellular membrane-the outside layer of protective coating. Bleomycin, Doxorubicin and Idarubicin are examples of Antitumor Antibiotics; and,

5. And Mitotic Inhibitors-which are plant alkaloids that inhibit enzymes needed for protein synthesis in the cancer cell. Docetaxel, Etoposide and Vinorelbine are examples of Mitotic Inhibitors.

Listed below are the drugs that are most commonly used in treating cancer. NOTE: An * indicates the drugs that are most frequently prescribed by physicians and a ^ indicates those drugs that MAY cause severe nausea and vomiting.

Asparaginase (Elspar): Elspar is injected into a large muscle, a vein, or under the skin. It is used in treating such cancers as acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Bleomycin (Blenoxane): Blenoxane is injected into a large muscle, a vein or under the skin of your forearm. It is used in treating such cancers as Hodgkin's disease and diffuse histiocytic lymphoma.

* Busulfan (Myleran): Myleran is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can also be injected into a vein. It is used in treating chronic myelogenous leukemia.

* Capecitabine (Xeloda): (Mentioned above in the article from Scotland regarding hospital time and side effect medication being reduced by oral chemo versus intravenous chemo) Xeloda is taken by mouth, with water only, in the form of a capsule. It is used to treat metastatic breast cancer.

* Carboplatin (Paraplatin): Paraplatin is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. Some patients experience more side effects with this drug than others. Carboplatin is a platinum compound that is used in treating advanced ovarian cancer as well as other cancers.

Carmustine (BCNU, BiCNU): BiCNU is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used to treat brain tumors, Multiple myeloma, Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

* Chlorambucil (Leukeran): Leukeran is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used to treat chronic lymphatic leukemia, malignant lymphomas such as lymphosarcoma and Hodgkin's disease.

* ^ Cisplatin (Platinol): Platinol is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. Some patients experience more side effects with this drug than others. It is used in treating such cancers as small cell lung cancer and testicular cancer.

* Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar): Cytoxan/Neosar is injected into a vein. It can also be given by mouth in the form of a tablet. It is used in treating such cancers as acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia, breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, Non-hodgkin's lymphoma, and diffuse histiolytic lymphoma.

Cytarabine (Cytosar-U, Ara-C): Cytosar-U/Ara-C is injected under the skin or into a vein. In special situations, it may be injected into the spinal cord space. It is used in treating such cancers as acute myelocytic leukemia.

^ Dacarbazine (DTIC-Dome): DTIC-Dome is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as Hodgkin's disease.

* Dactinomycin (Cosmegen): Cosmegen is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating testicular and uterine cancer.

^ Daunorubicin (Cerubidine): Cerubidine is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and actute lymphocytic leukemia.

Dexrazoxane (Zinecard): Zinecard is injected into a vein. It protects your heart from the harmful effects of some other chemotherapy agents.

* Docetaxel (Taxotere): Taxotere is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

* ^ Doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex): Adriamycin/Rubex is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. Some patients experience more side effects with this drug than others. It is used in treating such cancers as acute lymphocytic leukemia, Ewing's sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, small cell lung cancer, diffuse histiocytic lymphoma, and osteogenic sarcoma.

Etoposide (VePesid, VP-16): VePesid/VP-16 is injected into a vein. It can also be given my mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as small cell lung cancer.

Floxuridine (FUDR, Fluorodeoxyuridine): FUDR/Fluorodeoxyuridine is injected into an artery or a vein through an infusion pump. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in the palliative management of gastrointestinal cancer that has spread to the liver.

Fludarabine (Fludara): Fludara is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

* Fluorouracil (Adrucil, 5-FU): Adrucil/5-FU is injected into a vein. It can also be used as a topical cream. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as breast cancer.

Gemcitabine: (Gemzar is the chemotherapy drug Randy Stein took in his successful fight against pancreatic cancer) Gemzar is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer.

* Hydroxyurea (Hydrea): Hydrea is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating melanoma, resistant chronic myelocytic leukemia and recurrent, metastatic or inoperbable ovarian cancer.

Idarubicin (Idamycin): Idamycin is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Ifosfamide (IFEX): Ifex is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating germ cell testicular cancer.

* Irinotecan (Camptosar, CPT-11): Camptosar/CPT-11 is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating metastatic colon and rectal cancer.

Lomustine (CCNU, CeeNU): CCNU/CeeNU is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. A full dose may contain two or more different colored capsules. Taken on an empty stomach. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating brain tumors and Hodgkin's Disease.

^ Mechlorethamine (Mustargen, Nitrogen Mustard): Mustargen is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. Some patients may experience more side effects with this drug than others. It is used in the palliative management of Hodgkin's disease, lymphosarcoma, chronic myelocytic or chronic lymphocytic leukemia and bronchogenic carcinoma.

* Melphalan (Alkeran, L-PAM): Alkeran/L-PAM is injected into a vein. It can also be given by mouth in the form of a tablet. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in the palliative management of multiple myeloma and non-resectable epithelial carcinoma of the ovary.

Mercaptopurine (Purinethol, 6-MP): Purinethol/6-MP is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating acute lymphatic leukemia.

* Methotrexate (MTX): MTX is injected into a vein. In special situations, it may be injected into the spinal cord space. It can also be given by mouth in the form of a tablet. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, diffuse histiocytic lymphoma, and osteogenic sarcoma.

Mitomycin (Mitomycin C, Mutamycin): Mitomycin C/Mutamycin is into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating stomach and pancreatic cancer.

Mitotane (Sodren): Sodren is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule.It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating inoperable adrenal gland cancer.

Mitoxantrone (Novantrone): Novantrone is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL).

* Paclitaxel (Taxol): Taxol is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as breast cancer.

Pamidronate (Aredia): Aredia is injected into vein. It inhibits the natural breakdown of bone in your body.

Pentostatin (Nipent): Nipent is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating hairy cell leukemia.

* ^ Plicamycin (Mithracin, Mithramycin): Mithracin/Mithramycin is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating malignant testicular cancer.

* Procarbazine (Mutalane): Mutalane is taken by mouth in the form of a capsule. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as Hodgkin's disease and diffuse histiocytic lymphoma.

* Rituximab (Rituxan): Rituxan is injected into a vein. It is used in treating Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

* Streptozocin (Zanosar): Zanosar is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating metastatic islet cell cancer of the pancreas.

Teniposide (Vumon): Vumon is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Thioguanine (6-TG, Thioguanine Tabloid): 6-TG/Thioguanine Tabloid is taken by mouth in the form of a tablet. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It should be given on an empty stomach. It is used in treating acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Thiotepa (Thioplex): Thioplex is injected into a vein. In special situations, it may be injected into the spinal cord space or into the bladder. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating breast, ovarian, and bladder cancer.

* Vinblastine (Velban): Velban is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as Hodgkin's disease.

* Vincristine (Oncovin): Oncovin is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating such cancers as Ewing's sarcoma, small cell lung cancer, and diffuse histiocytic lymphoma.

* Vinorelbine (Navelbine): Navelbine is injected into a vein. It can be given alone or with other drugs. It is used in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer.